Number of violator vessels in Crimean ports in September reported – Ukrainian Ministry

Vessels calling in the Crimean ports under foreign flags violate the international law, the department reminded

KYIV (QHA) -

In September, 16 violator vessels, including tankers and cargo ships were recorded in the ports of the annexed Crimea, the Ministry of the Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine reported on Facebook.

“From September 1 to September 30, 16 tankers and cargo violating vessels entered the ports of the occupied Crimea. 15 vessels were flying the flag of the Russian Federation and 1 flying the flag of the Republic of Togo. In total, these vessels made 47 calls in the ports of Feodosia, Sevastopol and Kerch,” reads the report.

The ministry further noted that 13 recorded ships were moored in the waters of the ports of Sevastopol, Feodosia and Kerch, among which 10 were under the flags of the Russian Federation and the rest were under the flags of Turkey, Moldova and the Republic of Panama.

The Ministry of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine reminded that the seaports in the annexed Crimea (Yevpatoria, Kerch, Sevastopol, Feodosiya, Yalta) are closed according to the order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated April 30, 2014, as well as by order of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine dated June 16, 2014 "On the closure of seaports."

Thus, calls to the Crimean ports of ships under foreign flags are a violation of international law, and regarded as actions that undermine the sovereignty of Ukraine.

Earlier, the Ministry of Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine stated that in August, 16 foreign tankers and cargo ships illegally entered the ports of Crimea. In total, these vessels made 46 calls at the ports of Sevastopol and Kerch.